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Microsoft Tag: Microsoft’s own 2D barcode | |
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| Time: 00:16 EST/05:16 GMT | News Source: istartedsomething | Posted By: Kenneth van Surksum | ||
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Long Zheng: It just wouldn’t be right if Microsoft didn’t have its own barcode technology too, which is why today Microsoft Tag (Beta) was announced at CES 2009. Much like other 2D barcode technologies including the popular but underwhelming QR Code, Microsoft Tag allows data to be stored in a graphical bitmap using shapes and colors. But with a twist. If you were to assume Microsoft Tag is just a clone of QR Code, you’d be wrong. In fact you should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking about it. Microsoft Tag is based on a whole new technology called High Capacity Color Barcodes (HCCBs), which was invented in-house by Microsoft Research. The difference is not using square pixels, but triangle shapes and colors to store data. The following diagrams show off its advantages. | ||
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| #1 By 12071 (203.214.159.82) at 1/8/2009 6:26:47 AM |
| So we have something that requires a more complex reader - one that can accurately distinguish colors, that is permanently connected to the internet and relies on Microsoft to return the data.... to achieve what you can currently do with QR Code. Genius! Innovation at it's finest! I'm curious though... is Microsoft under the impression that they need to produce their own version of every other standard known to mankind? will something bad happen if they instead choose to implement an existing standard? |
| #2 By 28801 (65.90.202.10) at 1/8/2009 7:18:27 AM |
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So if MS sees an opportunity they should just sit on there asses because something else does something similar? Wow, where would we be if everyone thought that way?
Joe Mozilla: Hey, I think we should try to make a web browser. Fred Mozilla: But IE already handles this? Joe Mozilla: But I think we can make something different and better! Fred Mozilla: Stop rocking the boat and just stick with the status quo. Great idea Chris! |
| #3 By 2960 (72.196.201.130) at 1/8/2009 7:44:10 AM |
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This sounds like a really bad idea to me.
We have a decades-old system that works flawlessly. Why would we want to screw with that? |
| #4 By 8556 (74.84.87.66) at 1/8/2009 8:27:20 AM |
| Let's call it Microsoft Bob's Barcode. |
| #5 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 1/8/2009 8:35:15 AM |
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#1: It's all about control of the technology.
#3: So MS can make more money? That always seems to be the answer. |
| #6 By 28801 (65.90.202.10) at 1/8/2009 9:22:16 AM |
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#3: "We have a decades-old system that works flawlessly. Why would we want to screw with that? "
I think I heard the Mortgage companies say something like that. #5: "So MS can make more money?" Of course it is. Every action any company takes is about making money. Even charitable contributions are about making money. |
| #7 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 1/8/2009 10:13:35 AM |
| #6: You missed my point a bit. I was talking from the angle of the user/customer of the technology. Everyone should upgrade their systems to support this new bar code system at great expense so that MS can make more money. In other words, what's in it for everyone except MS? |
| #8 By 28801 (65.90.202.10) at 1/8/2009 10:50:28 AM |
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An immediate benefit that I see is that you can store a lot of info without having to maintain a website to house that data. Large companies may not care, but this would be very beneficial for smaller companies.
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| #9 By 92283 (70.67.2.125) at 1/8/2009 11:38:00 AM |
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"We have a decades-old system that works flawlessly. Why would we want to screw with that?"
Spoken like a true COBOL programmer. |
| #10 By 9589 (68.17.52.2) at 1/8/2009 2:23:47 PM |
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If deployed in mass, it could be useful and convenient.
By the way, #1, try viewing the video. The "complex" reader is your cell phone. Ditto, #7. In regards to Microsoft using an existing standard, why isn't the "standard" being used in the way that Microsoft proposes? Why don't you employ it for that use instead of whining about what others are doing. Or, hey, I know, if you have such antipathy for anything Microsoft, don't come to a blog where that is all that is talked about! |
| #11 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 1/8/2009 2:43:34 PM |
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#10: Can't see the vids at work. I don't know. Right now it kind of looks like the solution to a problem nobody has.
The "complex" reader is your cell phone. Ditto, #7. I saw the pic of the phone in the article but thought it was another way to scan as opposed to THE way to scan MS Tags. I really don't see where this tech is going. In regards to Microsoft using an existing standard, why isn't the "standard" being used in the way that Microsoft proposes? The tail doesn't wag the dog. MS isn't a standards-setting body as far as I know. They do have the power to create de facto standards just by forcing them into Windows, but that didn't work too well with MSXML. Or, hey, I know, if you have such antipathy for anything Microsoft, don't come to a blog where that is all that is talked about! I can't speak for the others, but I'm not slamming them here. I'm more curious as to what they plan to do with this, how it benefits anyone etc and I just can't see it. Maybe the video would help. |
| #12 By 12071 (203.210.68.145) at 1/8/2009 9:41:51 PM |
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#2 Don't misunderstand what I said - I have no issues whatsoever with and actually encourage better solutions. But this isn't a better solution - it's a far more complex one, it's a far more expensive one (for both the end user - readers are more expensive to create and the creator - publishing has to be in color which is also more expensive)... and in fact there's nothing better about it... it's simply different. It doesn't offer anything that you cannot do with QR Code and in fact doesn't provide many of the things that come with QR Code.
#10 It's a good thing that everyone has a cell phone with internet access and a data plan to go with it just to be able to read a barcode... brilliant! With that kind of thinking I honestly hope that you're working for Microsoft making a lot of money for yourself. |
| #13 By 143 (96.28.64.17) at 1/9/2009 2:37:47 AM |
| Can't wait to get this tattooed on my neck...LOL |
| #14 By 92283 (142.32.208.232) at 1/9/2009 3:03:40 PM |
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#12 " It's a good thing that everyone has a cell phone with internet access and a data plan to go with it just to be able to read a barcode... brilliant!"
It can cost 2000$ for wireless bluetooth barcode scanner. Brilliant!!! We know cell phones are soooo much more expensive. http://www.barcodesinc.com/cats/portable-data-terminals/bluetooth.htm |
| #15 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 1/9/2009 3:45:12 PM |
| #14: Selective facts again, parkkker? A house can cost 38 million, but that doesn't mean they all do or that that's anywhere near the average price. You can easily find bluetooth bar code scanners for under $1000. Wasp has some for a little over $500. Perhaps you should use Google instead of MS Live Search and you would get more relevant results. |
| #16 By 92283 (142.32.208.232) at 1/9/2009 4:14:33 PM |
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#15 Which Wasp model does QR and how much does it cost? I put QR in their search tool and found nothing.
After a little googling I realized that most QR reader software is for phones. You and Kabuki are idiots. As usual. |
| #17 By 2960 (72.196.201.130) at 1/13/2009 2:12:17 PM |
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#9,
So, prove me wrong instead of a BS answer. What's wrong with the current barcode system. TL |
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